The Rustic Mechanicals Return with Production of Shakespeare's Richard II
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on January 27, 2023
Casting for The Rustic Mechanicals’ “a Play, a Pie, and a Pint” production of THE FIGHT FOR THE CROWN (William Shakespeare’s Richard II) has been announced.
The first show in the 10th Anniversary Season of West Virginia’s only professional Shakespeare troupe will take place Feb. 10-11, at Mr. Taco in the Glen Elk neighborhood of Clarksburg.
Jason A Young, the troupe’s co-founder and producing artistic director, will lead the cast as the extravagant, self-indulging King Richard II. Joining Young are troupe veterans Joshua Books as Henry Bullingbrook Duke of Hereford and John Fallon as Henry’s father John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and the Bishop of Carlisle.
M. Eric Jett plays the Duke of York, while his son the Duke of Aumerle will be played by Jackson Johnson. Justin Grow will play Thomas Mowbray the Duke of Norfolk as well as young Harry Percy. Harry’s father the Earl of Northumberland will be played by Jim Matthews.
Richard’s royal friends “the caterpillars” Bushy, Bagot, and Green will be played by Justin Allan, Kaici Lore, and Sarah Young, respectively. Rounding out the cast in the small but powerful role of the Duchess of Gloucester is Lydia Mong; Isaac Covey as Sir Piers Exton; and Niki DeWitt as the Queen.
“The troupe is setting out to conquer Shakespeare’s history plays,” said Young. “I am excited and a bit intimidated to be taking on the title role in the first of these productions, but he is such a beautiful, well written character that I really couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”
THE FIGHT FOR THE CROWN (William Shakespeare’s Richard II) is being directed by Jim Warren, with production design by Seret Cole, costume design by Jason A Young, and production management by Sarah Young.
Warren, the co-founder and former artistic director of the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Va, and the current artistic director of the American Globe Center in Stratford, Conn., is back for his fifth season with the Rustic Mechanicals.
“The Rustic Mechanicals’ history series, that begins with Richard II, is a chance to experience the original game of thrones, the clash of the mighty dynasties, the Wars of the Roses, England’s history, our history, the rise and fall of kings as only Shakespeare and the Rustic Mechanicals can deliver,” says Warren. “Don’t miss a single part of this breathtaking adventure.”
Shakespeare’s Richard II presents a momentous struggle between Richard II (Young) and his cousin Henry Bullingbrook (Brooks). Richard is the legitimate king; he succeeded his grandfather, King Edward III, after the earlier death of his father Edward, the Black Prince. Yet Richard is also seen by many as a tyrant, a man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years.
Richard toys with his subjects, exiling Bullingbrook for six years. When he seizes the title and property that should be Bullingbrook’s, Richard threatens the very structure of the kingdom. Bullingbrook returns with an army that is supported by nobles and commoners alike, both believing themselves oppressed by Richard. This sets the stage for a confrontation between his army and the tradition of sacred kingship supporting the isolated but now more sympathetic Richard.
The Rustic Mechanicals’ script-in-hand performance series “a Play, a Pie, and a Pint” is all about the synergistic convergence of three of life’s most amazing things: pizza, beer, and Shakespeare, especially under-produced Shakespeare!
THE FIGHT FOR THE CROWN (William Shakespeare’s Richard II) can be seen Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11 in the upstairs event space at Mr. Taco in the Glen Elk section of Clarksburg.
All tickets are $25, which includes the food and the play. A cash bar will be on-hand to provide the beer. Seating is limited and reservations are required.
To purchase tickets visit [our.show/rmrichardii]our.show/rmrichardii, or email VintageTheatreCo@gmail.com for more information.
Editor's Note: Submitted event flyer at top and submitted cast photo at bottom.
